Peter Obi Criticizes 2023 Supplementary Budget, Highlights Urgent National Needs
President Bola Tinubu Signs N2.17 Trillion 2023 Supplementary Budget
Obi’s Concerns About Missing Urgent National Needs in the Budget
The Absence of Funds for Hunger and Social Welfare Programs
Obi Criticizes Government’s Lack of Empathy and Realism in Budget Allocation
The 2023 supplementary budget signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sparked criticism from Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).
Obi’s observations center on the allocation of funds in the supplementary budget and its failure to address pressing national needs.
One of the key points of contention is the controversial allocation of N5 billion for a Presidential Yacht, a budget item that has raised eyebrows given the country’s economic challenges.
Additionally, N605 billion was set aside for security purposes, aiming to enhance the capacity of the armed forces and security agencies to tackle security challenges across Nigeria.
Obi’s critique highlights the absence of critical allocations for addressing hunger and urgent social welfare needs in the supplementary budget.
He points to recent alerts from the United Nations and the World Food Programme, indicating that up to 6.5 million Nigerians will face food insecurity in the coming year, particularly in states like Sokoto, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, and Zamfara.
Obi suggests that the budget should have included provisions to mitigate this impending crisis.
The absence of items related to urgent social welfare further underscores Obi’s concerns.
Instead, the budget focuses on items like the Presidential Yacht, Presidential Jets, and the furnishing of already well-appointed presidential quarters and offices.
This allocation pattern portrays a government that appears indifferent to the suffering of the majority and out of touch with the nation’s prevailing mood.
Obi criticizes the government’s attitude as lacking empathy and realism, especially given the nation’s current challenges.
He points out that a significant portion of the funds for these expenditures will likely be borrowed, which raises questions about the government’s financial prudence.
In this context, Obi emphasizes that what Nigerians expect from the government at this difficult moment is empathy and a realistic approach to addressing pressing national needs.
His critique serves as a call for greater consideration of the citizens’ welfare and a focus on essential matters in budget allocation, particularly in the face of looming food insecurity and social challenges.
Politics